There are few entertainment mediums that can capture the same sense of character and dynamics as animation. Either with sharp art styles or flowing animation, cartoons for decades have managed to dazzle audiences of all ages. In the United States, several companies have thrown in their gauntlets for achievements in animation, such as the Walt Disney Company, Warner Bros., and MGM.

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However, few companies have become so synonymous with the animation industry, going as far as to define the "Saturday Morning Cartoon" trend, than Hanna-Barbera. Famous for developing animation staples such as Yogi Bear or Huckleberry Hound, Hanna-Barbera is one of the most influential animation companies in the industry's history, with some of their best series still seeing acclaim today.

10 The Flintstones (7.5)

The-Flintstones

Few animated series have been quite as influential as The Flintstones. Taking a page or two from The Honeymooners, the literal bedrock of animation established the classic sitcom formula that animated families, such as the Simpsons, the Griffins, and the Belchers, would use for years and years to come.

Focusing on the titular family, The Flintstones looks at the everyday life of Fred Flintstone, as he wades through his construction job and tries to support his budding family, all while struggling to fight his own selfish desires. With some loveable side characters and plenty of rock jokes to build a solid foundation, the Flintstones have earned their place as animation icons.

9 The Scooby-Doo/Dynomutt Hour (7.6)

Dynomutt and Blue Falcon

The Scooby-Doo franchise is the very definition of a mainstay among the animation industry. Sustaining several reboots and yearly movies even today, the mystery-solving corps and their talking dog have certainly withstood the test of time. In the late 1970s, they made their first return since 1973 as part of a package deal with the new Hanna-Barbera property, Dynomutt, and the Blue Falcon, called The Scooby-Doo/Dynomutt Hour.

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While the action program wouldn't often have Scooby-Doo and the blue heroes interact, it gave plenty of time for either to relive their mystery-solving ways or support the new adventures of Hanna-Barbera's next, action heroes.

8 Challenge Of The Superfriends (7.7)

As one of Hanna-Barbera's biggest installments to their action-adventure lineup, Challenge of the Superfriends was the third iteration of their Superfriends series. Superfriends as a whole was the animated adaption of DC Comics' heroes and, despite its name, it takes after the legendary hero group, the Justice League.

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While the animated series would mostly try to use original plots, Challenge of the Superfriends actually tried to borrow more heavily from the source material, going as far as to adopt DC's eclectic rogues gallery and even introduce the Legion of Doom, one of the most memorable and infamous villain groups within any child's memory.

7 The New Tom & Jerry Show (7.8)

The New Tom and Jerry Show

Acting as MGM's rival to Bugs Bunny and Mickey Mouse, Tom and Jerry were a comedic duo that became a household name due to their quirky and influential depictions of animated chaos. The duo wouldn't actually see television original programming until 1975 in which they debuted The New Tom & Jerry Show, also known as The Tom & Jerry/Grape Ape Show, or simply just The Tom & Jerry Show.

Despite sharing a time slot with a purple gorilla (Magilla Gorilla sends his regards), Tom and Jerry got to continue their success as a rating masterpiece, leading a legacy that would eventually lead to multiple reboots and movies.

6 The Real Adventures Of Jonny Quest (7.8)

JONNY QUEST

In the midst of the '90s push for edgier content, longtime animated properties began to see reboots as darker, radical characters. This is no different for the beloved action-adventure symbol, Jonny Quest, who received his own '90s reboot and became more serious and high concept than his series already was.

The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest contained the same formulas of traveling and mysteries that the original did but adapted them for a more modern audience, going as far as to add new characters as well as sci-fi elements within its digital world, Quest World. Despite the stigma surrounding animated reboots, some have argued that The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest is even better than the original.

5 Jonny Quest (7.8)

Jonny-Quest

While The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest had plenty going for it during an era where more serious and shocking content was popular, the original series did a lot to build a foundation for all action-adventure series to come in its wake. Prior to Jonny Quest, Hanna-Barbera was known for its colorful, mascot characters and childish humor.

However, Jonny and his adventures across the globe broke those trends by bringing kids more serious stores, more serious art styles, and plenty of hard-hitting action. Before he even got to his teens, Jonny Quest was already a legend.

4 Dexter's Laboratory (7.9)

Dee Dee annoys Dexter in his lab in Dexter's Laboratory.

Dexter's Laboratory has a gilded history as one of the first installments of Cartoon Network's new line of original programming. When the classic, children's network first premiered, it was simply relegated to showing reruns of cartoon classics that people had already been seeing for decades.

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Dexter's Laboratory would spark the start of a new wave of cartoons, including animation legends such as The Powerpuff Girls and Samurai Jack, that would come to define the childhoods of most kids and adults today. It all started with the series that blended both family humor and the classic sense of action and adventure that Hanna-Barbera was known for. Molded into a sci-fi adventure for the ages, Dexter's Laboratory is a series that has made '90s kids everywhere very proud.

3 Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! (7.9)

Scooby Doo Mystery Inc

It all started here. There are few generations today that don't recognize the classic, mystery-solving team and their Great Dane as well as their various adventures across creepy mansions, abandoned science facilities, and haunted theme parks.

Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! is a timeless gem from Hanna-Barbera's golden era that would develop the strong foundation that would carry the series for decades to come as well as the basic formula that would spawn "Scooby-Doo clones" such as Jabberjaw, Captain Caveman, and Speed Buggy. It would also create a theme song that, just by mentioning it, is just bound to get stuck in plenty of nostalgic people's heads.

2 The Pirates Of Dark Water (8.3)

Many kids and kids at heart today may not recognize The Pirates of Dark Water which is a shame given its legacy as one of the best action-adventure cartoons of its era and certainly within Hanna-Barbera's own pantheon of animation classics. A science-fiction/fantasy series for the ages, The Pirates of Dark Water focuses on Ren and his group of friends and adventurers as they travel across the world of Mer.

They're searching for the Thirteen Treasures of Rule in an effort to stop their planet from being consumed by the Dark Water. Everything between the series' writing and animation was a standout for its time.

1 Swat Kats: The Radical Squadron (8.4)

Netflix-Swat-Kats

Swat Kats: The Radical Squadron was all of the '90s' obsession with edgy content and sci-fi adventures all blended into one ridiculous yet endearing cartoon. Focusing on the titular Swat Kats, the series examines two vigilantes as they fight crime with their fighter jet as well as clash with Megakat City's brutal police force, the Enforcers.

This series had everything that made the era "radical," such as a dark, color palette, plenty of action, and enough wisecracks to even impress Joss Whedon. While the series only saw a relatively short run, it's seen cult success since its ending and has recently even garnered a massively successful Kickstarter campaign, though it is still currently too early to tell if the Swat Kats will really make a return in the modern age.

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